THE FRIGATE PELICAN, 167 
between their shoulders, raise one of their feet. 
place their bills upon their backs, and so betake 
themselves to slumber. Immediately on the re- 
turn of the tide, of which they have a most 
unerring intuition, they all start up, and spread- 
ing their ample pinions, soar in search of prey. 
They are also in a remarkable degree weather- 
wise, and should they be seen fishing in retired 
places, it is the sure precursor of a storm. On 
the contrary, when they venture out to see, it is 
a certain indication of fair weather. 
The frigate pelicans are closely allied in their 
habits, as in many of their characteristics, to the 
vulture. Like it rapacious, ferocious, and sloth- 
ful, their predominating traits are anything but 
attractive. Unscrupulously these birds pillage 
each other’s nests, in order to construct their 
own with less exertions; lord it over others 
* weaker than themselves, and even devour indis- 
criminately the young of every species. They 
exhibit extraordinary dexterity in collecting 
materials for the construction of their nests, 
and when flitting swiftly on wing they break 
off the twigs of trees in passing, just as though 
for amusement, by a single snap of their pow: 
erful bills, 
The frigate pelican possesses a power of flight 
equalled by few other birds, surpassing as it 
does that of the gull, the tern, and the hawk in 
a 
